Change the default admin color scheme from "Default" to "Modern"

[fabiankaegy]

This is a subticket of #64308 (WordPress Admin Visual Reskin).

As part of the WordPress 7.0 visual refresh, this ticket proposes changing the default admin color scheme from "Default" (fresh) to "Modern" for all users.

Background

The "Default" color scheme has been the admin default since WordPress 3.8. The "Modern" color scheme was introduced more recently and better aligns with the WordPress Design System and the visual direction established by the Block Editor and Site Editor.

With the visual reskin effort underway, switching to the "Modern" scheme as the default provides a more cohesive experience out of the box.

Proposed Changes

• Update the default for new users: Change the fallback color scheme from fresh to modern in user creation and the color picker.
• Migrate existing users: Add a database upgrade routine that migrates users currently set to fresh to modern.

Files Affected

• src/wp-includes/version.php – Bump $wp_db_version
• src/wp-admin/includes/upgrade.php – Add upgrade_700() function
• src/wp-includes/user.php – Change default in wp_insert_user()
• src/wp-admin/includes/misc.php – Change fallback in admin_color_scheme_picker()

Important Consideration

WordPress does not track whether a user explicitly selected a color scheme or inherited the default. This means users who intentionally chose "Default" will also be migrated to "Modern". These users can re-select "Default" from their profile settings if desired.

The "Default" color scheme will remain available as an option for users who prefer it.

Testing

• Verify new user accounts receive the "Modern" color scheme
• Verify the upgrade routine migrates existing fresh users to modern
• Verify users with other color schemes (Light, Blue, Midnight, etc.) are unaffected
• Verify "Default" scheme remains selectable in user profile

Related Tickets

• #64308 – Explore a "Coat-of-Paint" Visual Reskin of the WordPress Admin for WordPress 7.0

Trac ticket: https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/64546

@mukeshpanchal27 Great catch! I found a few more similar instances where fresh was used as a fallback in case no value was set. Should all be fixed now!

[Joen]

I would support this change, as the modern color scheme matches in color with those of WordPress.org, and features higher contrast than the current default.

Should the schemes be renamed? I.e. Default → Classic, Modern → Default?

[fabiankaegy]

@Joen yeah exactly, in the patch I renamed it to Classic :)

[jsmansart]

Environment

WordPress: 7.0-alpha-20260202.084607
PHP: 8.2.30
Server: pache/2.4.66
Database: mysqli 10.6.24-MariaDB
Browser: Firefox 148.0b8
OS: MacOS 26.2
Theme: Twenty Twenty-Five 1.4
MU Plugins: None activated

Test report

1. Before the upgrade to the PR version

Creation of a blueuser user with blue color scheme selected
Creation of a webmaster user with classic color scheme selected
admin user has the classic color scheme

2. After upgrade to the PR version

The screen with the Database upgrade button showed up -> OK
webmaster user color scheme is now modern -> OK
admin user color scheme is now modern -> OK
userblue user color scheme is still blue -> OK
Creation of a new user, the modern color scheme is automaticaly selected -> OK
Change of color scheme for user webmaster to classic -> OK

[karmatosed]

I fully support this also and it looks like it tests well. To me this is ready to get into at least an initial commit as a result. What does everyone else think? If I was to pick one of these it would to start with this one.

@peterwilsoncc thanks for the feedback :) all items should now be covered. Would love another review :)

@fabiankaegy What do you think about changing the onscreen display to Default which was done last time the default theme was changecd.

@fabiankaegy I tested the updates and verified that they work on my end using this playground link: ​https://playground.wordpress.net/wordpress.html?pr=10782.

[navi161]

Thanks @fabiankaegy!

Admin: Change default admin color scheme to 'modern' ✅ I am able to see the Default colour scheme to Modern now(compared with an existing WP Dashboard)

Testing Notes:
Verify new user accounts receive the "Modern" color scheme✅
Verify users with other color schemes (Light, Blue, Midnight, etc.) are unaffected✅
Verify "Default" scheme remains selectable in user profile✅

Screens attached in Attachments section.
Tested on Chrome 144 on WP Playground

Unless I'm overlooking something, the fallback color scheme set in wp_color_scheme_settings() is still set to 'fresh'; this should probably also be updated to 'modern', along with other checks in that function.

@joedolson great catch! Fixed

[poojapadamad]

Test Report

Description

This report validates whether the indicated patch works as expected.

Patch tested: ​https://patch-diff.githubusercontent.com/raw/WordPress/wordpress-develop/pull/10782.diff

Environment

• WordPress: 7.0-alpha-20260211.075611
• PHP: 7.4.33
• Server: PHP.wasm
• Database: WP_SQLite_Driver (Server: 8.0.38 / Client: 3.51.0)
• Browser: Chrome 144.0.0.0
• OS: macOS
• Theme: Twenty Twenty-Five 1.4
• MU Plugins: None activated
• Plugins:
  • Test Reports 1.2.1

===Actual results

• Admin: Change default admin color scheme to 'modern' ✅
• Testing Notes:

Verify new user accounts receive the "Modern" color scheme✅
Verify "Default" scheme remains selectable in user profile✅

Screenshots are attached for reference:

https://core.trac.wordpress.org/attachment/ticket/64546/New%20Note.jpeg
https://core.trac.wordpress.org/attachment/ticket/64546/New%20Note.2.jpeg

[audrasjb]

As a Core Committer I say +1 on committing this changeset.

Adding needs-user-docs as a large lot of screenshots will be outdated… though this is not a major issue since it's only a color change.

Since no owner is designated for this ticket, I'm self-assigning it to make sure it's committed before beta 1. But @fabiankaegy feel free to commit it if you want, you're the boss here.

[fabiankaegy]

@audrasjb I was planning on committing this tomorrow morning, though for this one in particular I'm not 100% sure about what @jorbin mentioned in regards to the commit this lands in for the DB migration: ​https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/pull/10782#discussion_r2796117546 so I will need to read up on that a bit more. If it makes sense to pair for this one also happy to do so. Or I can do the other three and leave this one to someone more experienced with committing :) All options are good by me

[fabiankaegy]

In 61644:

Admin: Change the default admin color scheme to Modern.

Rename the 'Modern' color scheme to 'Default' and the previous 'Default' scheme to 'Fresh'. Update all fallback references from 'fresh' to 'modern' across admin headers, the Customizer, the color scheme picker, the script loader, and user functions.

Add an upgrade routine in upgrade_700() to migrate existing users with the 'fresh' admin color to 'modern'.

Props fabiankaegy, audrasjb, mukesh27, westonruter, peterwilsoncc, jorbin, sabernhardt, joedolson, phpbits.
Fixes #64546.

[audrasjb]

This is worth mentioning in the Field Guide.